The Independent Union of Doctors (SIM) said this Friday that the Ministry of Health “has not closed the door” on any of the proposals jointly presented by the unions at the negotiating table, announcing that a new meeting is scheduled for Sunday.
The National Federation of Doctors (FNAM) and the Independent Union of Doctors presented this Friday to the guardianship body a counter-proposal in which they demand the restoration of 35 hours of working time per week for all doctors who wish it, and of 12 hours of working time. a week in the Emergency Service, as well as a lateral salary increase of 30%.
Leaving the meeting at the Ministry of Health, which lasted about two hours, the SIM secretary general told reporters that “with regard to the reasonable proposal presented jointly by the two trade unions, the Ministry of Health has not closed the door on any issue.”
“This means that you will analyze them, you will make a counter-proposal, which you will present to us on Saturday, and we will analyze it on Sunday, at 17:00, and present our position,” said Jorge Roque da Cunha.
Health Minister Manuel Pizzaro explains that the agreement “cannot be achieved by reducing the ability to respond to the Portuguese” and emphasizes that the rapprochement must take place “from side to side.”
“The government is not closed to any decision one way or another,” the minister assured.
Fnama President Joana Bordalo e Sa said in turn that the condition for the federation’s presence at the meeting is that the ministry present “a written proposal during the day on Saturday” so that it can be analyzed, remembering that trade unions have become accustomed over the past 18 months to “a series of meetings that turned out to be very fruitless.”
“It is very important that the principles set out in our proposal are accepted and that we can apply them seriously and intelligently,” the union leader said.
He stressed that “it is necessary once and for all” for the government, the Department of Health and “Dr Manuel Pizarro himself to understand what doctors need to work in the National Health Service.”
Asked if she was optimistic about an agreement next Sunday, Joana Bordalo i Sá said that “the only way it won’t happen is if the government doesn’t want it.”
“The proposals are now on the table. However, we need seriousness throughout the entire negotiation process, we need minutes of previous meetings (…) and for the document to reach us seriously, with everything necessary, so that we can analyze it. Seriously and be here, to find a solution for the NHS,” he said.
Joana Bordalo e Sa said that what is at stake “is really the National Health Service, which is in danger, and the Ministry of Health has so far done nothing to solve the problem.”
He argued that Manuel Pizarro now needed to accept the principles set out in the unions’ counterproposal, come up with a counterproposal, and after that there could be “a stage that can give a reasonable answer to the doctors.” Table.
“If nothing actually happens, this fight will continue because doctors are fighting effectively for their working conditions, they are fighting for the National Health Service,” warned Joana Bordalo e Sa, stressing that the strike planned for November 14 and 15 will remain if there is no agreement.
Author: morning Post This Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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